Who is the conference for?
The conference brings together academics, curators, heritage practitioners and people with an interest in the Gothic Revival. You do not need to present a paper to attend. It explores literature, visual arts, architecture and material culture through lectures, papers and discussion.
How much are tickets and when can I book?
The proposed rates below are for the full two-day conference. Booking will open in January 2027.
Standard in-person: £100 (delegates attending without presenting a paper).
Paper speaker: £60 (accepted speakers).
Online: £30 (delegates who wish to participate virtually).
What form will the conference take?
This is a two-day academic conference with four plenary keynote lectures, parallel panels of papers and discussion, and a planned closing round table. Parallel panels run in the Waldegrave Drawing Room and Senior Common Room. The final programme and speaker list will be announced in January 2027.
Where will it take place?
Daytime sessions take place in the Waldegrave Suite at St Mary’s University, Waldegrave Road, Twickenham, TW1 4SX. Registration is planned in the Ante Room; plenary sessions and one parallel panel in the Drawing Room; the second parallel panel in the Senior Common Room; and catering in the Billiard Room. A visit to Strawberry Hill House will be included as part of the conference.
What are the daily timings?
Sessions will take place during the day on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 June. Exact registration, start and finish times will be confirmed alongside the final programme. Please allow for two full days when planning your visit.
What does an in-person ticket include?
The ticket includes conference sessions on both days, lunch and tea and coffee breaks each day, and entry to Strawberry Hill House. Arrangements for visiting the House will be confirmed nearer the time.
Travel and accommodation are booked and paid for separately. See below for details.
Will the conference be hybrid?
We are hoping to offer a £30 online option for delegates, however all speakers presenting a paper will need to participate in-person.
Who provides lunch and refreshments?
St Mary’s in-house catering team will provide lunch and refreshments in the Billiard Room. Dietary requirements should be supplied when booking.
Is the conference accessible?
There is step free access to the Waldegrave suite and one adapted toilet on the same floor. Guests needing this route would access through the Waldegrave Suite entrance door which is from the staff carpark.
The ground floor of Strawberry Hill House is wheelchair accessible, with lift access to most first-floor rooms. Three rooms—the Library, Horace Walpole’s Bedchamber and the Plaid Bedchamber—are not wheelchair accessible. The Garden and Café have step-free access, although the lawn can be uneven. For full details and visiting resources, please see our accessibility page. If you require assistance, please contact our team before your visit.
St Mary’s University
We have rooms reserved at St Mary’s University for conference attendees. Single-occupancy en-suite rooms are available at the following quoted rates per person, per night:
Room only: £56.40 + VAT
Bed and breakfast included: £64.30 + VAT
To book or get further information email conferences@stmarys.ac.uk and ask for Viv Shinner, mentioning the Gothic Conference on 17–18 June 2027.
The Alexander Pope
The Alexander Pope is a nearby alternative for attendees who prefer hotel accommodation. Rates for that week are approximately: £164 without breakfast, single room or £194 with breakfast, single room. They recommend booking via email alexanderpope@youngs.co.uk or 020 8892 3050. A discount of 8% is available if you quote that you will be attending the Gothic Conference at Strawberry Hill House in June 2027.
Accommodation is booked and paid for separately from your conference ticket.
How do I find the conference rooms?
A campus map is available here, arrival instructions will be shared with attendees in advance.
How do I travel by public transport?
By train: Strawberry Hill is the nearest station, approximately five minutes’ walk from St Mary’s. Direct South Western Railway services run from London Waterloo. From the station, walk along Waldegrave Gardens, then turn right onto Waldegrave Road towards the university.
By Underground and bus: Take the District Line to Richmond, then continue by train to Strawberry Hill or take the 33 bus towards Fulwell, alighting at St Mary’s University. The R68 also serves nearby Strawberry Vale, approximately five minutes’ walk from campus.
Is parking available?
We would strongly recommend using public transport to travel to the conference. We only have a limited number of spaces available in the Strawberry Hill House car park, and you would need to register your numberplate via the shop. On the St Mary’s Campus there are limited spaces in designated ‘D’ bays of no more than 30 and payment is via an app.
For conference and registration enquiries email gothic2027@gmail.com
